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114

Not sure when it happened but the smell of mildew all the sudden just overtook me about a week or so ago and I found some under my camper mattress so I had to throw the mattress cover off and it's vapor barrier sheet and then apply a little bit of vinegar to the foam mattress to kill the mold that was there. I have a bunch of clothes that have some mildew smell and I'm using the sun to kill the mold right now. Next week sometime I'm going to go back into town and do a wash to get all the mold and mildew smell off my clothes and the bags that they're in.

A big reality check though is my electronics have the smell of mildew on them. For instance my SLR camera smells like mildew and so do some of its cases and a lens. How the heck do I get the smell of mildew off that stuff? I know I can't use vinegar because there's water but can I just use isopropyl alcohol? I was also reading something about baking soda. Do I mix the two together and then rub with a towel on the electronics? Or is there a better solution I could buy?

Not sure when it happened but the smell of mildew all the sudden just overtook me about a week or so ago and I found some under my camper mattress so I had to throw the mattress cover off and it's vapor barrier sheet and then apply a little bit of vinegar to the foam mattress to kill the mold that was there. I have a bunch of clothes that have some mildew smell and I'm using the sun to kill the mold right now. Next week sometime I'm going to go back into town and do a wash to get all the mold and mildew smell off my clothes and the bags that they're in. A big reality check though is my electronics have the smell of mildew on them. For instance my SLR camera smells like mildew and so do some of its cases and a lens. How the heck do I get the smell of mildew off that stuff? I know I can't use vinegar because there's water but can I just use isopropyl alcohol? I was also reading something about baking soda. Do I mix the two together and then rub with a towel on the electronics? Or is there a better solution I could buy?

(post is archived)

[–] • 5 pts

That mold could also contribute to the "demonic" dream you had.

[–] • 2 pts

That could be. Last year I went to New England and then into the Canadian maritimes which is all humid and I'm sure that didn't help my mold situation. And then being stuck in a lot of rain in the American southwest it didn't help. I could be one gigantic driving mold spore. I wonder if I should get a UV lamp and put it under my bed platform and just have that thing on all the time nuking anything that's under there?

[+] [deleted] • 3 pts
[–] • 3 pts

Ozone generator. Works like a charm. Open all the cupboards and closets, set it for an hour and get out.

[–] • 0 pt

Have you used one before? I was looking at a couple on Amazon and they don't look too expensive.

[–] • 2 pts

Yeah, I have one. We live in the woods, lots of shade. Basement gets musty when it's humid in the summer. Start it, come home in a couple hours and it smells fresh like after a thunderstorm. Just open the windows for a bit. I've used it for mouse odor in a car. If you over do it, it can degrade some types of plastic.

[–] • 1 pt

You don't need a big unit for your space. Walmart has a few on their website to ship, not sure if you could get lucky and find one in a store.

[–] • 1 pt

I'll look when I'm in town on Tuesday

[–] • 2 pts

Place I used to work at used Simple Green on stuff like that. Alternatively, you could try ammonia plus mineral spirits.

[–] • 2 pts

Fuck it, burn it down and collect the insurance.

[–] • 4 pts (edited )

Oh they're on to the jew lightning. Plus I don't have enough insurance to cover the loss. the hoops they want you to jump through to get what items are worth now is unbelievable. Insurance is no longer our friend, they literally fight you tooth and nail to not have to pay. You have to embarrass them on social media when they're out doing one of their pat themselves on the back media tours in order for them to give you the money that they owe you.

[–] • 1 pt

Yep, still fighting to get what they owe us after a year. They have paid out some but not nearly what the coverage lists and we have multiple adjusters and contractors in agreement. Don't care how long it takes, they will pay out.

[–] [deleted] • 2 pts

R86 crystals are worth a shot in this situation

[–] • 1 pt

Sounds like I can't get back into my camper after I use them.

[–] [deleted] • 1 pt

nah you shake 'em over everywhere, they soak up the smell, then you vacuum it all up

[–] • 1 pt

So I need to be by a place with a vacuum. Where can I get this stuff?

[–] • 1 pt

If all else fails, follow the advice in versus 33, 43, and 46.

[–] • 2 pts

I think I'll go as far as having cedar around me. Not too sure I want to butcher a lamb and throw it over my right shoulder.

[–] • 1 pt

That part is for skin diseases. For mildew your priest is supposed to kill one bird and set the other free. Cedar is still involved though.

[–] • 0 pt

This would mean I'd have to find a priest to do this for me. Although I'm in an eclectic desert region of California I'm not sure I can find someone that wants to cut the head off of a dove.

[–] • 1 pt

I live in a damp climate. This is a real battle and sometimes you lose. Any time it is sunny or breezy roll down the windows. If you're parked somewhere safe leave the doors open, ventilation helps. Diluted bleach cleaner on hard surfaces. Make sure your fabrics are getting washed and dried regularly, especially stuff in storage that isn't used often. Check your glove box, storage bins, pull up any rugs, carpet, driver's side floor mat. This time of year a nice sunny day means you should probably spend as much time cleaning as you can. Interior mold/mildew is bad for your health and can even destroy some possession. As far as mildewy electronic I'm not sure what to do about that but the bag of rice trick can't hurt to try. There are also moisture absorbing bags you can buy and hang up in various places.
GL

[–] • 1 pt

What about doing vinegar and water how does that work? I used that yesterday on a bunch of stuff. I've also been putting whatever I can outside. I actually put all these clothes outside on a tarp all day. Fingers crossed that the UV from the Sun would do some work. I had mixed results on that but it was worth a try. I left the doors and windows open all day and I have a fan running 24/7 now.

[–] • 1 pt

Vineagar works as well, just let it sit a bit longer to take effect. It's good for when bleach might be too strong

[–] • 1 pt

I think I'm going to put some of the stuff back outside again in the afternoon. It's kind of crappy though it makes my camp look like I'm a crazy weird mad Max desert cast member.

[–] • 1 pt

Nuke it from orbit, it's the only way to be sure.